I was diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2022. It is now July 2022. I have had a lumpectomy. I have survived chemotherapy. I am waiting to begin radiation.
It has been beautifully brutal. I have cried over lost hair, missed opportunities and low energy. I have been sick and lifeless… BUT I have felt loved, cherished and directed. I had friends send me cards, make random phone calls, send me meals, make special visits and I can’t even begin to say enough about how wonderful my family has been to me!
I must say that one of the things that got me through is my work with equines. Here are some of the things that broke me and gave me the fight to keep going.
*The week I lost my hair.. one of my students came to me and said “ Ms. Carisa.. you are beautiful with or without hair”.
*A former student of mine was riding horses with me. When she found out I was sick, she faithfully brought me chicken pot pies on the nights she rode and prayed for me on the weeks I had chemo.
*A special young boy works with me on Saturday mornings. While he cannot speak traditional words, his giggles and smiles lifted my spirits and renewed my drive. His mom had ladies at her church make me a prayer blanket, and his little sisters helped pray for me at night.
*A young girl looked through her belongings and brought me a metal tin with cookies in it (the cookies had been there a while lol—so I will say I didn’t eat them).
*Another young girl (with her mom) sent me a special rock and a book. They shared that we passed daily as I drove to work and they always prayed for me.
*A special young man who volunteers with me and that I taught when he was younger brought me flowers.
*Another young woman’s mom sent me an email and stated that she didn’t know what to do for me – so she prayed and God told her to send me a hat! It was perfect as I wear hats most of the time now!
I hope that I haven’t forgotten any of my students and the gifts they gave me. BUT the biggest gift they gave me was their joy.. the looks they made when they figured out something new with their horse.. the sweet hugs and high fives… the laughs we shared.
This work invigorates me and gives me such joy! Isn’t this what life is about—giving and receiving in an endless cycle? I think so!
I am forever thankful for the ability and gift of being able to do this work! It truly helped me through cancer treatments! If you have never checked out equine assisted therapies—I encourage you to do so!!
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